Originally Posted by ddeflyer (Post 1985326)

Speaking of catch cans, I was surprised that, on the stock engine setup (as in nothing changed), I got a small (but very noticable) boost in power when I added catch cans (kind of like adding some race fuel). In about 30 track days since then I've only emptied the catch cans once and even then there wasn't very much in them. Such a minuscule amount of oil can make such a large difference!

Originally Posted by glamcem (Post 1985319)

@Sleepless, I think you're overly concerned with the basic bolt ons and tune, if you think about it, it's nowhere near close to the complexity of the FI and tune since there are a lot more parameters and things that can go wrong ,, I think the list from more complex to simple would be something like this Turbo>Supercharger>bolt ons>stock .. then again there are some cases where the OEM tune was the problem (there are many TSBs about the factory reflashes) and people had custom tunes because of that ..

I bet there are hundreds of bolt on + tuned cars on the road and track, in fact I hardly ever see a bone stock FRS/BRZ :) with that said, there are always risks associated with taking these cars to the track ..if the car was not that boring in stock form we wouldn't bother modding them :/

I've been "heavily track testing" my car with KW kit and guess what at the very same tracks you attend to (temps, octane, elevation) but I never had any tune related issues so far, what more evidence you need? :)

Originally Posted by ddeflyer (Post 1985352)

While you might not be having any issues, you are only one data point. For all that any of us know you might have a particularly solid engine or have some driving characteristic that avoids a critical issue everyone else might have. If you think about it, the stock characteristics were designed with intimate knowledge of the behavior of these engines under a wide array of conditions throughout the simulated lifespan of the engine. Your tune might be great for your particular setup today, but it might cause an issue with every 20th car or some such when put to heavy use conditions. In five years your tune might also cause other premature failures.

I guess what I am saying is that one person's experience doesn't prove safety and claiming otherwise is dangerous (especially since someone is likely to look past issues on the setup that they have worked hard to construct).

Originally Posted by glamcem (Post 1985366)

certainly, and I mentioned that in my post (#15) ..

regarding to the OEM tunes, I think we all agree that in stock form these cars were designed to last and pass emissions (both not related to track use), not to perform so it is not hard to understand that a car in Arizona deserts and Boston winter have the same exact tune, ever heard about factory reflashes that occurred after catastrophic failures?

Originally Posted by dradernh (Post 1984894)

From page 3 of Jackson Racing's Installation Instructions:

When at the track, we REQUIRE running a minimum of 50% 100 Octane fuel. We highly recommend running 75-100% 100 Octane when at the track.

And, in response to a related email inquiry of mine:

We recommend customers with access to only 91/93 octane at the track to put a full tank of 100 octane in, and then top off with the 91/93 every couple sessions. As stated in our instructions, it is also important to keep above half a tank due to fuel starvation.

Note that the JR tune is a 91 octane tune (i.e., that's the minimum octane that can be run when using the tune).

Originally Posted by Sleepless (Post 2001385)

That is VERY useful info which I was not aware of, and, pretty much at the heart of my "concerns". It also means that an SC is out of the question for me since only one out of the four tracks in the NW has race gas.

Originally Posted by Sleepless (Post 2001385)

That is VERY useful info which I was not aware of, and, pretty much at the heart of my "concerns". It also means that an SC is out of the question for me since only one out of the four tracks in the NW has race gas.

Originally Posted by CSG Mike (Post 2001680)

Most guys that track already put in a gallon or two of 100 as a precaution anyways, and most people transport their own high octane or E85.

Originally Posted by dradernh (Post 2001941)

Is that a twin-specific thing, or do track day drivers of different makes generally do that in Southern California?

The first person I've ever come across doing this here in the Northeast was a twin owner last month at Watkins Glen. He was having what he thought might be tune issues, and he thought that adding a few gallons of 100 unleaded would add a margin of safety.

In my mind, something is wrong if a 91 octane or whatever tune isn't usable or safe at the track, but becomes so if higher octane fuel is added. It's as though in reality you have a 95 octane or a 97 octane tune if you're going to lean on the car. New one on me.

Originally Posted by dradernh (Post 2001941)

Is that a twin-specific thing, or do track day drivers of different makes generally do that in Southern California?

The first person I've ever come across doing this here in the Northeast was a twin owner last month at Watkins Glen. He was having what he thought might be tune issues, and he thought that adding a few gallons of 100 unleaded would add a margin of safety.

In my mind, something is wrong if a 91 octane or whatever tune isn't usable or safe at the track, but becomes so if higher octane fuel is added. It's as though in reality you have a 95 octane or a 97 octane tune if you're going to lean on the car. New one on me.

Originally Posted by dradernh (Post 2001941)

Is that a twin-specific thing, or do track day drivers of different makes generally do that in Southern California?

...

In my mind, something is wrong if a 91 octane or whatever tune isn't usable or safe at the track, but becomes so if higher octane fuel is added. It's as though in reality you have a 95 octane or a 97 octane tune if you're going to lean on the car. New one on me.